Short-Term Disability Benefit Policy

The short-term disability benefit provided by [Company Name] is an employer-funded plan providing income replacement for employees unable to work due to illness, pregnancy or injury.

Eligibility

A regular, full-time employee who has completed six months of continuous employment and who is unable to work due to illness, pregnancy or injury is eligible. The employee must have exhausted all paid leave, including vacation, personal days and sick leave. An employee receiving workers' compensation or disability pay under any state or federal plan is ineligible for this benefit. To be eligible for continued disability benefits, the employee must not engage in outside employment and is expected to avoid activities that may delay recovery and return to work.

Medical Certification

The employee must provide medical certification of the disability that includes the start and expected end date of the disability. This certification must be submitted to the director of human resources, who will review the certification and make a determination on benefit qualification.

Benefit Payment

The short-term disability benefit payment is 67 percent of the employee's base weekly wages or salary calculated on average earnings in the previous six months, to a maximum benefit of $1,000 per week. The benefit may be paid for a maximum of 12 weeks per calendar year. Payments are made on regularly scheduled paydays. The benefit is taxable income.

Return to Work

The employee must return to work as soon as permitted by his or her health care provider. The employee must submit a fitness-for-duty clearance to the director of human resources. An employee whose absence has been designated as Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave is eligible for reinstatement as provided by the FMLA.

Employees with questions regarding this policy should contact the director of human resources.